Mexborough and Swinton Times March 17, 1939
Hands Across The Sea
What Australia Offers
Work For Those Who Really Want It
Mexborough Man’s Letter
A recent letter from an old Swintonian in Australia who used somewhat pessimistic terms in describing the prospects in the Kalgoorlie district, has provoked a reply from a former Mex-borough resident who is now living in Kalgoorlie. He is Mr. William Platt, a member of a well-known Mexborough fatally, who went out to Australia about twelve years ago after first doing some farming work at Harlington, and he is at present working in the gold mines.
Mr. Platt is a former pupil of Doncaster Road School, and is now residing at 300, Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Mr. Platt writes: “I am replying to a statement printed in your paper some months ago by Mr. James Hudson, an ex-Swintonian now residing in Australia. In his letter he gives the reader morbid and pessimistic views of Australia and uses Kalgoorlie as an example of these views. He also advises young lads from Yorkshire against coming to Australia, because he implies there is a grave chance they will starve here.”
Mr. Platt does not think it is exactly fair to paint such a picture of conditions out there, and remarks that Mr. Hudson has evidently been in. Australia for about ten years himself without starving. He goes on to say, “Kalgoorlie is definitely the Eldorado of Australia, and any person who really wants work and is not afraid to work, is very seldom out of a job. As a very young lad I came from Mexborough to Australia. Certainly my life has not been a bed of roses all the time, but the experience has been a fortune in itself.”
“Doing Fine.”
“I married an Australian girl who comes from good old pioneering stock, and together we have travelled (and worked) all over Australia and are now residing in Kalgoorlie and incidentally are doing fine. I would like Mr. Hudson to forward me a detailed map of the disused mine caves where hundreds of youths are sleeping while ‘lucky residents literally throw their food scraps to them.’ As a matter of fact I did not know there were any caves within miles of Kalgoorlie.
“Concluding, let me add a word of advice to lads of Yorkshire. Come to Australia by all means, but tak the knocks on the chin if the need arises.”